Moscow calls for dialogue with Washington on strategic offensive weapons
MOSCOW. Feb 5 (Interfax) - Russia confirms its commitment to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty and calls on the United States to continue dialogue on issues relating to its implementation.
"The Russian Federation confirms its commitment to the New START Treaty. However, the Russian Federation urges the U.S. to continue constructive search for mutually acceptable solutions for problems associated with the re-equipment and removal from count of strategic offensive weapons, as well as any other issues that may arise between the parties in the context of implementing the New START Treaty," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.
"The Russian Federation takes note of the statement of the U.S. saying it has achieved the approved total quality levels of strategic offensive weapons," the statement said.
According to the statement, Article II of the New START Treaty obligates Russia and the U.S. to reduce by February 5, 2018 the aggregate numbers of strategic weapons to the following levels:
(a) 700 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs and heavy bombers;
(b) 1,550 warheads on deployed ICBMs, deployed SLBMs and heavy bombers;
(c) 800 deployed and non-deployed launchers of ICBM, SLBM and heavy bombers;
According to the statement, Russia fully fulfilled its obligations under the New START Treaty, having achieved the following levels as of February 5, 2018:
(a) 527 deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers;
(b) 1444 warheads on deployed ICBMs, SLBMs, and heavy bombers;
(c) 779 deployed and non-deployed launchers of ICBM, SLBM and heavy bombers.
"Official notification confirming these numbers will be sent to the United States in the near future," the statement said.